Archive · 13 Aug 2026
University of Michigan to cover freshmen grades under pass/no-credit pilot
A big university in the United States is trying something new to help its new students.
The university is called the University of Michigan.
When students start college in fall 2027, their first-semester grades will be shown only as 'pass' or 'no credit' on official records.
Teachers will still grade their work, so students will still know how they are doing.
But letter grades will not be on the official transcript or count toward their GPA.
The university hopes this makes the first semester less stressful.
Many students feel pressure to get perfect grades while also learning to live on their own.
Some other schools, like MIT, have used similar systems for many years.
Not everyone agrees with the plan, and some people think hiding grades is not the answer.
The university says the rule applies to everyone, so no student is singled out.
University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) will show first-semester freshmen courses as pass or no-credit on external transcripts starting fall 2027.
Letter grades will still be kept on internal records for advising, scholarships, awards, and applications, and normal grading resumes the following semester.
All incoming LSA freshmen are automatically placed in the 'grade covering' pilot with no opting out; new transfer students are not eligible.
The university says the policy aims to help students adjust to college life and curb a mental health crisis among college-aged individuals.
Reaction is mixed: supporters call it 'cutting edge,' while critics say grades have lost value as indicators of quality and worry preparation gaps will be masked.
- Who
- Incoming freshmen at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA).
- What
- First-semester letter grades will be 'covered,' appearing as pass/no-credit on external transcripts and excluded from GPA.
- When
- Starting in fall 2027, for the first semester only.
- Where
- University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
- Why
- To help students adjust to college life and curb what the university calls 'the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals.'
Supporters of Grade Covering
Critics of Grade Covering
Student stress and adjustment
Supporters of Grade Covering
Removing grade pressure helps freshmen adjust to college life and addresses the mental health crisis; student body president Summit Louth thinks he would have learned more without the pressure of chasing high marks.
Critics of Grade Covering
Kenneth Lowande argues 'grades have lost their value as an indication of quality or excellence'; Neetu Arnold says the pilot won't fix preparation gaps.
Equity and fairness
Supporters of Grade Covering
Applying the policy uniformly is equitable — if covering grades were optional, students who opt in would be wrongly assumed to be doing poorly.
Critics of Grade Covering
Because Michigan doesn't require SAT or ACT scores, preparation gaps may be hidden, and this pilot does not address that problem.
Academic motivation
Supporters of Grade Covering
Students balance learning to be adults with wanting straight A's; less pressure can lead to more genuine learning.
Critics of Grade Covering
Students may not work as hard under a pass/no-credit system — even Summit Louth doubts he would have worked as hard without grades.
- Institution
- University of Michigan — College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA)
- Program name
- Grade covering (pass/no-credit pilot)
- Start date
- Fall 2027
- Policy
- First-semester courses marked pass or no-credit on external transcripts; not counted toward GPA
- Internal use
- Grades kept for advising, scholarships, awards, internships, and majors outside LSA
- Eligibility
- All incoming LSA freshmen automatically included; no opting out; transfer students excluded
- Student body
- Of ~8,200 first-year students in 2025, more than 3,500 enrolled in LSA
- Precedents
- MIT since 1968; Caltech, Wellesley, and Swarthmore run similar programs